The NRL is continuing with the change it made to the Dally M Medal voting system for 2023, following concerns around the integrity of the game’s highest individual honour.
In a significant overhaul to the process, two judges award votes across each regular season game.
Here's how it's going to work:
How are Dally M votes awarded?
Previously, votes would be awarded by a single judge per game on a three-two-one basis, with three votes for the player deemed best afield.
The identities of the judges were also publicly available.
Under the new system, two unnamed judges, selected from a panel of former players, watch each match and separately award votes on a three-two-one basis, meaning a player can receive a maximum of six votes per match.
As in the past, votes across the early part of the season were published on Mondays following each round.
After round 12, voting went behind closed doors until the end of the regular season.
The Dally M medallist, as well as the positional award winners, will be crowned at Wednesday night's ceremony.
How does a player become ineligible for the Dally M medal?
Any player who is suspended for two or more matches in any one season immediately becomes ineligible for the Dally M Awards.
Any player who is suspended is deducted three Dally M Medal points for each week of suspension.
How is the Dally M Team of the Year chosen?
Along with the Dally M Medal winner, a team of the year is also named at the end of the season, with one player named across each position in the starting 13.
There has been some confusion surrounding the selection process for the team of the year but the NRL has confirmed the following:
"The judges vote on the best player(s) in each position at regular intervals throughout the season," a statement on NRL.com reads.
"A further vote is conducted at the conclusion of the regular season.
"The player(s) who polls the highest number of votes in each position is included in the Team of the Year, with one exception – players who finish in the top 3 of the Dally M Medal automatically receive their position in the Team of the Year."
Recent Dally M Medal winners
| Player (Team) | Year |
| Kalyn Ponga | 2023 |
| Nicho Hynes (Sharks) | 2022 |
| Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles | 2021 |
| Jack Wighton (Raiders) | 2020 |
| James Tedesco (Roosters) | 2019 |
| Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors) | 2018 |
| Cameron Smith (Storm) | 2017 |
| Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) Cooper Cronk (Storm) | 2016 |
| Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys) | 2015 |
| Jarryd Hayne (Eels) Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys) | 2014 |
| Cooper Cronk (Storm) | 2013 |
